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15,287-acre bay near Benicia. The water tops out around 75 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Suisun Bay runs 14,901 acres with 46.8 miles of edge — 6 islands included. An index of 2.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 49% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 14.6 mi long by 5 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Solano County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Big Break, 16 mi east of here.
When the water first warms, striped bass slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is a 25 to 60 ft game here, winter a 20 to 50 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 57 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (57 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (24 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Deep basin (57 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Creek inflow (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (57 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 16 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 57 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California DFW (ocean sport fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Suisun Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Suisun Bay is about 75 ft (23 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, channel catfish on Suisun Bay.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 57 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Suisun Bay is regulated by the California DFW (ocean sport fishing). Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Big Break 16 mi · Napa River 20 mi · Franks Tract 21 mi · San Pablo Bay 22 mi · Clifton Court Forebay 28 mi · Bethany Reservoir 29 mi · Petaluma River 30 mi · Richardson Bay 30 mi · Lake Del Valle 36 mi · Lake Berryessa 39 mi · American River (Lower) 50 mi · Folsom Lake 69 mi
See how Suisun Bay stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in California · best striped bass lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.